Conyers: Newsflash Key Item in House GOP Values Agenda Goes Down (Again)

Newsflash: Key Item in House GOP Values Agenda Goes Down to Defeat (Again)
Just two days ago, GOP Majority Leader Boehner, with great fanfare, offered their so-called "American Values Agenda." The agenda is nothing but rehashing failed legislation designed to divide and distract the American people from the real problems we face, such as the inability to earn a living wage, a health care system in disarray, and sky-rocketing energy prices.

So imagine our shock when yesterday the very first item listed in their agenda, the so-called "Pledge Protection Act," (an unprecedented court stripping bill that would deny federal courts any ability to consider constitutional questions concerning the Pledge of Allegiance) went down to defeat in the House Judiciary Committee yesterday by a 15-15 vote.

Of course, in the GOP Congress, we can never count on a vote that we won holding up (remember the Prescription Drug bill?), so after the vote we learned that a re-vote was scheduled for today. But when the appointed hour of 2:30 came, Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) refused to change his vote, so yesterday's defeat of the bill held (although Committee Democrats were prepared to boycott the proceedings in any event). This has got to be a crushing defeat for Boehner, who is now left with the Hobbesian choice of dropping the lead item in their sham "agenda" or bringing up legislation that was rejected by their own Committee.

There is no doubt the bill deserves defeat. Although I and other Democrats strongly support the Pledge of Allegiance, I cannot support legislation that would undermine the whole of the federal judiciary. By denying the Supreme Court its historical role as the final authority on the constitutionality of federal laws, this bill unconstitutionally usurps the Court's power and violates the principle of separation of powers that sets our government apart from the rest of the world.


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does it? If they pass some stupid law that would take away the powers of the SC, wouldn't a challenge in that same SC be ruled unconstitutional?

I'm glad it failed at the congressional level, but even if it haden't, wouldn't it be doomed anyway?

seem helpless in the face of the bush destruction of our constitution and nation.

why not get all the congressional dems to walk out onto the capitol steps in protest, spontaneously and without prior announcement,
step to a microphone and denounce bush for violation of his oath of office and repubs in congress for the same offense?

even the simpering washington press corps could not ignore that.

Msongs

listen to our song demos!
www.msongs.com/msongsdemos.htm